Battery-operated lantern



C. OSEAN BATTERY OPERATED LANTERN Filed April 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 7, 1925. y 1,544,772

.Fuy 7, 1925. 1,544,772

C, OSEAN BATTERY OPERATED LANTERN Filed April 17, 1,925 2' sheets-sheet 2 uuml foi:

Patented July7 7, 1925.-y

UNITED srrrE--s-A 1,544,712 PATENT orifice..

CHARLES osEA'N, o rwooncLIrr; Nnw JERSEY, AssreNon 'ro NATIONAL CARBON coMrANY, INc.,l A conronA'rxoN or lNEW Yoan.

BATTERY-O'PBBATED LAN'rEnN.

Application filed April 17, 1923. Serial No. 632,724.

To all whom t may concem:

Be it known that I, .CHARLES OSEAN., a

citizen lof the United Statesfresiding at 'VVoodcliL in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Battery-- Operated Lanterns, of which fthe 4Jfollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to batteryop'erated illuminating devices of the lantern type. l A particular object. of the invention is to. provide a lantern well adapted for use by train- "men for signaling purposes,v or 1n other occupations where a Adurable and dependable lighting device is' required. To this end I have devised an improved and simplied switch mechanism and contact-forming means adapted for' usefwith unit cells, that is7 separate cells not wrapped or other- Wise secured togetherl in any way;l

Numerous forms of battery operated lanterns have heretofore been proposed-5I but so.

, far as I am aware .theyh'ave all included a are placed in circuit without relatively complicated. circ-uitarrangement.-

For this reason trouble may be encountered becausethe cells are incorrectly inserted ,or because some portion ofthe mechanism falls under conditlons' of rigorous service.v

In accordance with the present invention a construction is provided inwhich unit cells the intervention of any connecting wires., Also' the arrangement 'is' such that it is 'practicallyimpossible to insert the cells wrongly. The., ilnv proved switch may be actuated directly -or through swinging the bail of thelantern to one of its lower positions.

Reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig.. 1 is' av,'vertical section through a lantern embodying the present'invention, the bail being brokeni away; l

. Fig. 2 is a section on line II-II of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; f

'tact disel 14'. This. disc is insulated vtain two superposed In the drawings reference numeral 1 clenotes a metallic casing, preferably of cylindrical form. A. cover 2 is hinged to the casing at 3. The casing is supported by a base ring 4 which has legs 5 rlveted Iat 6v to the casing body. A lamp bulb 7 is threaded into vsocket 8 in the caslng bottom and is protected by wire cage 9.

A battery supporting plate 10 having a downwardly turned vlian e 11 is fitted rigidly in the bottom of t e casing. As shown in F ig.. 3, the 4plate 10 has three pairs lof'parallel slots 12. An insulating sheet 13 and a Contact disc 111 are placed, in the order named, upon the supporting plate 10. Contact 'disc 14 (Fig. 4) comprises a circular body having three radial projections 15. The projections have lateral extensions'bent downwardly to form l ears 16 ada ted to pass through slots 12 in plate 10. liiefore placing the contact-disc'lll on plate 10, the insulating sheet 13: (Fig. r5) -is positioned on vthe plate.-v The'sheetl is shaped like the contact disc and has down-turned ears' 17 which are assed through slots 12. These ears underlie those on the contact disc and prevent them from touching the supporting late 10.

2 The assembly-is secured togetherpby 'ending the ears 16 inwardly'at right angles beneath. the supporting plate. The' slots. `12 are longer than, the width of ears-16 so that therevrelnainsl a clearance between the ears and plate 10.. Asring arm -18 has an end 'secured by one o the pairs of ears '16 and insulated from plate 10 by interposing the correspondingpair of downturned' ears 17. The other end of the springg'arm rests upon the inner terminal of lamp bulb 7. In this way .the

lamp is electrically connected with the confrom the casing, except through arm 18, as will be clear from the foregoingdes'cription. c

The battery container 19 (Fig. (i) is suitably secured in the casing 1, as by riveting tothe vsu .porting plate 10. In the form illustrate the container is roughl trianguiar in'cross section and is adapte to congroups 20 and: 21 of three small cylindrical cells each.A The container 19 isfastened in the casing in such a way that terminals of the. cells cannot fail to make contact with the raised portions 22 formed on.v contact disc 14,v no matter howthelcells may, he inserted.l Ordinarily. the

col

first group of cells will be placed with their zinc bases resting upon the raised portions.

The second group of cells will be similarly placed, their bases resting upon the carbon terminals of the first group. As will be described later, an upper contact means is so arranged that it must automatically engage the carbon poles of the second group of cells.

An important feature of the present invention is the shaping of the battery container so as to' permit the automatic formation of a circuit by merely inserting a plurality of separate cells. To attain this result, it is necessary that the cells be prevented from relative movement in their container. I have found that a very simple and effective way of preventing such movement is by making the container of a shape conforming generally to the lateral contour of a compact assembly of the number of cells desired. In the form illustrated, the three parallel cylindnical cells placed closely t0- lgether have a roughly wedge-like contour. This conforms to the shape of the container and each cell is retained in an angular portion, from which it can not move laterally with relationtothe other cells. The idea involved may of course be extended to cases in which| a greater or less number of cells forms the battery. For example, a cell container of flattened elliptical cross section may .be used when the battery is composed of two vertical rows of two cells each. In general, the container may have any conformation which will prevent relative movement of the cells. The number of electrode contacts will be increased or diminished in ac cordance with the number of cells used.

The cover 2 carries the means for making contact with the upper battery terminals and also contains the switch mechanism. A stud 23 is secured centrally in the cover and extends inwardly for a suitable distance. A cover plate '24 is centrally perforated to receive the stud and is loosely held on it by meansof the nut 25. The cover plate 24 has raised portions 26 upon which rest an insulating sheet 27 and a contact plate 28, both .being Y-shaped as illustrated in Fig. 2. Theraised portions 26 are perforated to permit the passage of conductive rivets 29. In the concavity of the raised portions, in- Sulating blocks 30 are placed and are held in'positionv by the rivets, the upper ends of which are expanded over the contact plate 28 to hold theass'embly together. There is a clearance between rivets 29 and cover plate 24, and the stud 23 is ofy smaller diameter than the perforation 27 in the contact plate By this construction contact may be established between the carbon poles of the cells through rivets 29 to contact plate 28, without making electrical connection with the casing 1. A coil spring 30 surrounds stud 23 and is under compression between the top of the cover and a switch arm 31 which is pivotally mounted on the stud. An insulating washer 32 spaces the switch arm from the contact plate 28.

The length of battery container 19 is such that the upper group of cells 21 projects somewhat beyond it, and the cover plate is accordingly forced upwardly when the cover is swung down to bring rivets 29 into engagement with the carbon poles of the cells. In this way a positive contact is automatically secured. Also, since the cover plate is mounted loosely at its center, it may conform to irregularities which may be produced by variation in the lengths of the cells. Good contact is assured even with cells having the maximum' variation in length encountered in commercial practice.

The clearance between the vcentral perforation in Contact plate 28 and the stud 23 is greater than that between the cover plate 24 and the walls of the casing 1, so that even if thel cover plate in its varying positions touches the casing, they contact plate 28 willl remain insulated.

Plate 28 vis put in circuit with the casing by means of a Contact member 33 secured to cover plate 24 by rivet 34. Member 33 has one end overlying switch arm 31 and in this end there is a diagonal slot 35 in which a pin 36 on the switch arm is adapted to move. The relation of the pin and slot and the pivotal point of the Contact member is such that on suitably moving the projecting end 37 of arm 31 in slot 38 in cover 2, the upturned end 39 of the Contact member will engage contact plate 28.

As shown in Fig. 2 the member 33 is in circuit-closing position. Current flows from the battery through rivets, 29 to contact plate 28, thence through member 33 to the switch arm 31, the stud 23, and casing/'1 to the outer lamp terminal, thence through the lalnp filament to spring Contact 18, clamping ears 16 and contact disc 14, and thence to the battery.

The switch may be operated directly, as described, or by swinging the bail or handle 40 to one of its lower positions. This is accomplished Aby engagement of the elongated end 41 of one side of the bail with the projecting end 37 of the switch arm. To return the arm to its initial position the bail is swung to the other limiting position.

The bail 40 is drawn in toward the casing by coil spring 42 which bears against a nut v43 at the inner end of the stud 44, upon which one end of the bail is pivoted. A spacing bushing 45 (Fig. 8), through which the stud passes, is fixed in the wall of the casing 1.' The bail has projections 4 6 and 47 (Fig. 7) which fit into the grooves 48 in bushing 45. This connection is sufficiently strong to sustain the lantern body in par- For example, in signaling,

allelism -with theA handle in any position. the structure may be extended horizontally and thelan tern body will not swing downwardly. However, the handle may be easily turned down, as the spring 42 will yield suiliciently to permit the projections 46 and 47 to slip 'out of grooves 48.

The construction described is characterized by simplicity and reliability. It will be noted that the only requisite for proper insertion of the cells is that they shall be all turned in one direction. A lso, there are no circuit wires or other easil disarranged parts to get out of order. nit cells are used, thus eliminating the packaging of the cells to form a battery, as is customary in many prior lanterns, and avoiding the provision of special terminals.

The number of cells and If a non-conducting casing is used, a suitable metallic connection between the switch arm and the outer lamp terminal may be installed. One or more spare bulbs may bestored at the top of the battery.

cooperating contacts may be varied as desired, and various claims.

other modifications of the s ific structure illustrated may be made wit inthe scope of the invention as defi-ned in the appended with portions adaptedto' engagea plurality ed battery container so arranged that the' lower terminals of cells in.' it must engage a loose,

of unit-cell terminals, and a rigidly mount# tlie...sai.d portions on the contact.

2. The invention according to claim 1, in which the container conforms generall1 to the lateral contour of a closel arrange assembly of cylindrical cells, w ereby relative lateral movement of the cells is prevented.

3. The invention according to'claim 2, in which a 'conductive plateis arranged above the battery container and isadapted to be automatically placed in circuit with the uper cell terminals. 4.' A battery operated lantern comprisin acasing, a contact in the lower part-thereo v'with portions each vadapted to engage a cell' ductive plate in said to kaccommodate cells o terminal, a cover for the Acasing, and a concover adapted to be automatically placed in circuit with the upper cell terminals when the coveris" closed.

5. The invention according to v claim 4, in which the circuit-forming means in the cover is resiliently forced into engagement with the upper cell terminals., l

6. The invention according-to claim 5, in which the circuit-forming'means is loosely supported, so that it ma yield marginally varying lengths.

7 A battery operated lantern comprising a casing, a lamp bulb mounted in t e botself to variations in operated lantern comprising' tom of the casing, a contact member engaging the inner lamp terminal, a contact disc to which said member is secured, means for retainin la plurality of cells each having a lower e' ectrode in engagement with. the contact disc, a cover on the casing, and means carried bythe cover for automatic engagement with the upper cell vterminalswhen the cover is closed.

8. A battery operated lantern comprising a casing, a lamp bulb mounted in the bottom of the casing, a contact member engaging the inner lamp terminal, a contact disc to which said member is-secured', said 'disc being insulated from thef casing, meansfor retaining a plurality of cells each having a lower electrode in engagement with the contact disc, a cover on the casing, conductive means carried by the cover for automatic engagement with the upper cell terminals when the cover is closed, said means being insulated from the casing, and switch mech; anism adapted to estab ish electrical connection between the insulated members and the casing when the lamp isto be operated. 9. In a battery operated illuminating device, a contact plate having a loose, resilient mounting,

the lengthof the cells ormin the battery.

10. he invention according to claim 9, in which. the contact plate is mounted on a central 'stud encircledy by a. coil spring exerting pressure upon the plate.

11. In a battery operated illuminating device, a, contact plate adapted to en age a plurality 'of unit-cell terminals and aving resilient mounting whereby the plate may ,adapt itself to the. variations in the length of the cells forming the battery.

12. A battery operated lantern comprising a casing, an insulated conductive` plate therein adapted to be placed in circuit with the terminals of a plurality of cells, switch mechanism adapted to place the conductive plate in nircuit with the o ther` terminals of said cells and having a portion extending throu h the wall of the casing, and a bail rotataly mounted on the casing and having an elongated end adapted to actuate the switch when the bail is turned into certain positions.

13. A battery operated lantern comprising a casin a conductive plate therein adapted tov ie placed in circuit with the terminals oa lurality of cells,'a member supporting sai conductive plate, switch mechanism on the member comprising a contact having a resilientend, and means for moving said end into or out of engagement placed in circuit with tle terminals of a plurality of cells,

a member supwhereby the plate may adaptit a conductive plate therein` porting said plate, switch mechanism on the member and comprising a contact having a resilient end, a switch arm pivoted to move over the plate, a pin on the switch arm, said pin being adapted to move in a suitably formed slot in the other end of the contact, whereby the resilient end of the Contact is caused to move into or out of engagement with the contact plate when the switch arm is actuated.

15. The invention according to claim 14,

v in which the casing is provided with a bail with an elongated end, the switch arm projects beyond the casing, and is operable y engagement with the elongated end in certain positions of the bail.

16. In a battery operated illuminating device, a battery container shaped to conform generally to the lateral contour of a non-alined compact assemblyof unit cells,

whereby lateral shifting of the cells is prevented, and contact members having ,terminal-engaging portions arranged above and below the battery container, the portions being so placed that the terminals of the cells will automatically engage them.

17. In a battery operated illuminating device, means for supporting three battery cells in a non-alinedvrelation and With their bottoms substantially in the same plane, three contacts disposed respectively in the axes of said cells, and a contact member to Whichsaid contacts are rigidly attached, said contact member being arranged to rock in any direction to compensate for disparity in the length of the cells.

In testimony whereof, I aiixfmy; signature.

CHARLES;v osnAN. 

